Seafood€€Mon-Sat 12:00-22:00
Peixes in Nice: Armand Crespo's stand-up ceviche counter on Rue de l'Opera, no reservations and morning catch from the Cours Saleya fish market.
Why locals love it: Armand Crespo's stand-up ceviche counter on Rue de l'Opera, no reservations and morning catch from the Cours Saleya fish market.
Tip: Arrive by 12:30 or 19:30 to land a stool; tapas from €7 and mains at €25.
Wine bar€€Tue-Fri 12:00-14:00, Mon-Fri 19:00-22:00
Le Lavomatique is a wine bar room in Nice. Open after dinner from 21:00; the natural list rotates every week and runs deep on small producers.
Why locals love it: The Loubert brothers' natural wine and tapas bar on Rue du Pont Vieux in Vieux Nice, a quiet alternative for a second drink off the busy Cours Saleya.
Tip: Open after dinner from 21:00; the natural list rotates every week and runs deep on small producers.
Mediterranean€€Mon-Sun 12:00-22:00
Le Plongeoir (Mediterranean) in Nice: Book the sunset service for the bay light; the lounge bar below the restaurant is the cheaper way to drink on the rock.
Why locals love it: Helical diving board restaurant at Cap de Nice, the city's most photographed dining room with a market driven Mediterranean menu over the Baie des Anges.
Tip: Book the sunset service for the bay light; the lounge bar below the restaurant is the cheaper way to drink on the rock.
Niçoise€€Mon-Fri 12:00-14:00, 19:00-21:30
La Merenda in Nice: No telephone, cash only, two sittings, books in person at the door earlier the same day for the lunch service in Vieux Nice.
Why locals love it: No telephone, cash only, two sittings, books in person at the door earlier the same day for the lunch service in Vieux Nice.
Tip: Arrive in person at 11:00 or 18:00 to write your name on the booking sheet for the same day's service.
Niçoise€€Tue-Sat 12:00-13:45, 19:00-21:45
Le Bar des Oiseaux is a niçoise room in Nice. Reserve dinner Tuesday to Saturday. The ravioli niçois and the daily fish are the house orders. 1 Toque 2026.
Why locals love it: Hidden in a Vieux Nice cobbled alley off Rue Saint Vincent, the pop-art-decorated room serves home-made ravioli and Nicoise plates at neighborhood prices.
Tip: Reserve dinner Tuesday to Saturday. The ravioli niçois and the daily fish are the house orders. 1 Toque 2026.
Wine bar€€Tue-Sat 08:00-14:00, Sun 08:00-12:30
Cave de la Tour is bellet wine bar with the world petits farcis championship, four generations of gazan family running the vieux nice room since 1947.
Why locals love it: Bellet wine bar with the world petits farcis championship, four generations of Gazan family running the Vieux Nice room since 1947.
Tip: Champ runs every autumn at the granite counter; book a stool the same morning.